Thank you for some wonderful recommendations along with reminders about favourite books that deserve to come off the shelf at Christmas.
My own favourite, Dylan Thomas and A Child’s Christmas in Wales. A beautiful new copy came my way for £1 under strange circumstances...a fundraising bookstall in a little village church where I was attending the funeral of my first NHS community nurse manager and who had been the very best. It felt like a sign from her which I willingly embraced.
Many thanks for the mention 😉 and for picking up the baton. Your posts have been a delight and full of so much inspiration and I definitely know how much work is involved!
What a wonderful wonderful and magical post. The one I’ll be coming back to again and again ! So many books to read and to discover.
As a teacher myself I understand a lot of what you’re describing. I teach kindergarten now because it seems to be the only space left in the school system where I still have relative freedom in what and how I teach. Everywhere else - the standards to be achieved by the end of the school year and the exams dominate.
Very curious to see what will come out of your studio.
Meanwhile enjoy your creative break and thank you so much for sharing your writing with us!
Beautiful, Deborah, both your tribute and your photos. I loved Tom’s Midnight Garden, the Narnia books and the fantasy novels of E. Nesbit, among a great many others.
Oh! And Rona will surely know, but non-North American readers might not, that Nesbit had an American fan, Edward Eager, who wrote a series of beloved children's books in which ordinary children encounter magic, as a kind of homage or follow-up. I loved them, though was rather distressed when in one of them a snooty family is shown to be so in part because they're vegetarians and the father can read obscure classical languages on sight!
I'm English but my local library had both Edward Eager and Elizabeth Enright when I was growing up. Lots of happy memories reading both. Thank you for bringing them to mind again.
I read Ghostland this year too and absolutely loved it. It's a joy of a book. I am just getting into Rumer Godden, seeking out second hand copies of her novels - I shall put this one on the list!
Isn't it good? I bought it in the wonderfully named Crabpot books in North Norfolk and she pressed a signed copy on me, assuring me I would love It - as bad I did. I love this Rumer Godden and, like you, are collecting more.
Enjoyed the read Deborah. Spooky in itself because I only learned of M R James from reading another Substack last week. I had no idea and Livermere is a site I often go birdwatching.
I understand a grave of a lady in the churchyard was a name he used for one of his witch characters.
Yes, the name "Mothersole" and I found it! It is a strange place and can see it is also good for birdwatching. It was so damp and cold on the day I visited that I didn't linger long!
Thank you very much, Gina and hope you had a lovely Christmas! I was thinking of you and your wonderful sewn houses and dolls - I am sure they loved them.
Ghostland is such a fascinating book and I am certain you will love it. Do let me know!
We did thank you, quiet with just two of us. We spent the previous weekend with all the family and the little dolls were very well received by all of them, especially our 8 year old grandson. I had wondered if he might think himself too old but didn’t want to leave him out
I have just watched The Box of Delights for the first time and enjoyed it. I’ve loved the book since I was a child and my father read it to us at bedtime with a lot of scary voices and gave my youngest sister nightmares. It’s a Christmas book I often return to along with The Dark is Rising and The Children of Green Knowe. I also love Sue Gees books, especially The Hours of the Night which was the first I ever read, Earth and Heaven, my favourite and Trio. I’m always surprised that very few people seem to know her books.
Since reading the book, I realized how much was missed in the TV series. The book is magical and how marvellous to have it read to you. He must have had great fun doing the voices!
No one else has mentioned Sue Gee, so it seems that very few know her writing. I have yet to read Earth and Heaven, so I shall look forward to it. The Hours of the Night is remarkable, first read years ago and must reread it. I loved A Letter from Prague too. Thank you for reading this, it is always lovely to hear from you and hope the set is going well? A very happy Christmas x
Thanks very much for all your gorgeous posts, photos, artworks and book recommendations through the year - your Substack is a gold mine! I always get some great ideas from you. So glad you enjoyed “The box of delights”, it’s one of my favourites. Wishing you a very happy winter solstice, Christmas and New Year!
Thank you very much for your support. I loved it and must read The Midnight Folk too - I just couldn't resist " The Box of Delights" for Christmas! A very happy Christmas to you x
Thank you so much for the shout out! That came upon me completely unexpectedly as I was reading this, and made my day.
Tom's Midnight Garden was one of my childhood favorites too. It's especially nice that you mention it now as I was just thinking about it the other day, making a mental list of favorite winter scenes from children's books. Thought of the ice skating scene from this right away (that wonderful note: ”to keep a promise made to a little boy”!), and also a children's book that's probably not as well known there: Farmer Boy, by Laura Ingalls Wilder, telling the childhood of her husband on a farm in upstate New York. No one else ever seemed to read that one when I was a kid, but I loved it.
How marvelous to teach and read to kids, as you were doing.
Thanks for this, and all best wishes for the holidays and the new year!
It is such a wonderful book, I think my favourite childhood book. When you mentioned winter scenes, I reminded of the skating scene in "Love for Lydia" by HE Bates, do you know it? I haven't read Laura Ingalls Wilder but really must remedy that. I loved the TV series as a child.
I love Come Back Lucy - the book. I never saw the TV series as I think it was on ITV and my childhood home was not an ITV household. Anyway - I would be happy to lend you my copy of the book if you are in the UK.
I had a very cheap copy in my World of Books basket and while I was looking for others by her, it sold. I was furious! All other copies are ridiculously expensive. I am in Norfolk, so if you didn't mind, that would be wonderful, thank you.
That is essential! The link is correct, I think. At the end of my post A Restful Life you will find mention of Rumer Godden's "Fugue in Time" under the subtitle, Something to Read.
Just finding this Substack. Looks very interesting. But the link you put on the Rumer Godden book A Fugue in Time goes some place else. I’m a big fan of the Goddens, both Rumer and Jon. Had not heard of his work. You may want to correct that.
I really enjoyed this post! I hadn't heard of 'A Box of Delights,' so I'll be getting that from the library shortly. Your story about growing up with only a few books at home made me think of Dianna Wynne Jones, who I love. She wrote about how her own girlhood was bereft of books and stories (she had stingy and strange parents). It's wonderful to me that -- either despite or because of her and her sisters' childhood lack -- she grew up to write some of the most delicious and surprising children's books in the English language.
She is another who I missed and she is mentioned in the Katherine Rundell essay, so I was intrigued. Where should I start? I am so glad you enjoyed the post.
Her most popular book is HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE, and it really is as good as everyone says. Very similar in its spirit to the Ghibli movie adaptation, but with major plot differences. A bit lesser known is her novel TIME OF THE GHOST, which has a lot of autobiographical influence, including the detail I shared with you about how she and her sisters grew up without books. Both of these novels are great entrypoints into her work! Maybe I would start with HOWL because then you'll have an easier time finding other readers to chat with about it -- which you'll definitely want to do! :)
Hey, I did indeed press the heart because I loved the post. While, inevitably, my choices differ from yours what I loved was your writing, your way of talking, about these books (and your foray to MR James’s childhood home - and the jolt of the posh cars) were what made me enjoy it so much.
I think Rundell is a great force for good in reading and writing; and her understanding of the way our childhood selves and our childhood reading resonate through the decades, and the adults we become so that those childhood years seem, a times, like another country, is unique on the current scene. The child is, indeed, father to the man…but how far away and different that child can sometimes seem to the man.
And Rentzenbrink always strikes me as an equal force for good, and a fine exemplar of writing in one’s own voice and articulating complexities lightly.
I dig that oak moon. Very MR James.
Happy Christmas and cheers for such interesting posts.
Thank you very much, Nicolas. The childhood home is a very unsettling place but the house itself is now rather grand, with vast marquees in the garden and not remotely unsettling!
I think these essays by Rundell are excellent. I read that she is putting much of her profits into climate change. She is clearly a force to be reckoned with. I am just about to begin The Golden Mole.
I loved the Rentzenbrink, her journey through books brought back so many reading memories.
I was amazed the oak moon photo turned out, so I had to use it!
Thank you very much for taking the time to read it and a very happy Christmas to you.
Thank you for some wonderful recommendations along with reminders about favourite books that deserve to come off the shelf at Christmas.
My own favourite, Dylan Thomas and A Child’s Christmas in Wales. A beautiful new copy came my way for £1 under strange circumstances...a fundraising bookstall in a little village church where I was attending the funeral of my first NHS community nurse manager and who had been the very best. It felt like a sign from her which I willingly embraced.
Many thanks for the mention 😉 and for picking up the baton. Your posts have been a delight and full of so much inspiration and I definitely know how much work is involved!
What a wonderful wonderful and magical post. The one I’ll be coming back to again and again ! So many books to read and to discover.
As a teacher myself I understand a lot of what you’re describing. I teach kindergarten now because it seems to be the only space left in the school system where I still have relative freedom in what and how I teach. Everywhere else - the standards to be achieved by the end of the school year and the exams dominate.
Very curious to see what will come out of your studio.
Meanwhile enjoy your creative break and thank you so much for sharing your writing with us!
Thank you so much for all your support and comments here. It makes it all worthwhile.
Yes, although I had not intended to teach younger children, I found I loved it and it was so rewarding.
Yes, I am making new prints, a different type of monotype - do hope they work out!
Have a lovely Christmas and thank you for your beautiful posts .
Beautiful, Deborah, both your tribute and your photos. I loved Tom’s Midnight Garden, the Narnia books and the fantasy novels of E. Nesbit, among a great many others.
They are such magical, timeless books. I love E Nesbit too. I am looking forward to this!https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2024/mediapacks/a-ghost-story-for-christmas-woman-of-stone
On Nesbit (whom I also love), came across this recently and enjoyed it, in case of interest: https://open.substack.com/pub/lukehoney/p/the-railway-children-1970?r=2u2cxe&utm_medium=ios
It won't be a surprise that I love The Railway Children! Thank you very much for sending me this.
I'm glad! I do too — it's my favorite of all of hers.
Oh! And Rona will surely know, but non-North American readers might not, that Nesbit had an American fan, Edward Eager, who wrote a series of beloved children's books in which ordinary children encounter magic, as a kind of homage or follow-up. I loved them, though was rather distressed when in one of them a snooty family is shown to be so in part because they're vegetarians and the father can read obscure classical languages on sight!
I didn't know of him, but will look now him up!
Half Magic is the one to begin with, and then I think Magic by the Lake.
I'm English but my local library had both Edward Eager and Elizabeth Enright when I was growing up. Lots of happy memories reading both. Thank you for bringing them to mind again.
I am looking forward to discovering both, thank you.
Oh, that's nice to hear! One never knows what crosses oceans and doesn't. This made me reread Half Magic on the spot 😊
I read Ghostland this year too and absolutely loved it. It's a joy of a book. I am just getting into Rumer Godden, seeking out second hand copies of her novels - I shall put this one on the list!
Isn't it good? I bought it in the wonderfully named Crabpot books in North Norfolk and she pressed a signed copy on me, assuring me I would love It - as bad I did. I love this Rumer Godden and, like you, are collecting more.
Enjoyed the read Deborah. Spooky in itself because I only learned of M R James from reading another Substack last week. I had no idea and Livermere is a site I often go birdwatching.
I understand a grave of a lady in the churchyard was a name he used for one of his witch characters.
Yes, the name "Mothersole" and I found it! It is a strange place and can see it is also good for birdwatching. It was so damp and cold on the day I visited that I didn't linger long!
Thank you for such interesting posts throughout the year. I have just added Ghostlands to my list for 2025.
I hope you had a good Christmas and best wishes for 2025 Deborah
Thank you very much, Gina and hope you had a lovely Christmas! I was thinking of you and your wonderful sewn houses and dolls - I am sure they loved them.
Ghostland is such a fascinating book and I am certain you will love it. Do let me know!
We did thank you, quiet with just two of us. We spent the previous weekend with all the family and the little dolls were very well received by all of them, especially our 8 year old grandson. I had wondered if he might think himself too old but didn’t want to leave him out
Another wonderful post full of inspiration, Deborah. I hope you have a lovely festive season.
Thank you, Gillian, that is kind of you. Wishing you a happy and peaceful Christmas x
Merry Christmas, Deborah, and thank you for another post filled with little gems and nuggets of interest. Happy New Year!
Thank you so much, Rod! A very happy Christmas to you🌲
I have just watched The Box of Delights for the first time and enjoyed it. I’ve loved the book since I was a child and my father read it to us at bedtime with a lot of scary voices and gave my youngest sister nightmares. It’s a Christmas book I often return to along with The Dark is Rising and The Children of Green Knowe. I also love Sue Gees books, especially The Hours of the Night which was the first I ever read, Earth and Heaven, my favourite and Trio. I’m always surprised that very few people seem to know her books.
Since reading the book, I realized how much was missed in the TV series. The book is magical and how marvellous to have it read to you. He must have had great fun doing the voices!
No one else has mentioned Sue Gee, so it seems that very few know her writing. I have yet to read Earth and Heaven, so I shall look forward to it. The Hours of the Night is remarkable, first read years ago and must reread it. I loved A Letter from Prague too. Thank you for reading this, it is always lovely to hear from you and hope the set is going well? A very happy Christmas x
Thanks very much for all your gorgeous posts, photos, artworks and book recommendations through the year - your Substack is a gold mine! I always get some great ideas from you. So glad you enjoyed “The box of delights”, it’s one of my favourites. Wishing you a very happy winter solstice, Christmas and New Year!
Thank you very much for your support. I loved it and must read The Midnight Folk too - I just couldn't resist " The Box of Delights" for Christmas! A very happy Christmas to you x
Thank you so much for the shout out! That came upon me completely unexpectedly as I was reading this, and made my day.
Tom's Midnight Garden was one of my childhood favorites too. It's especially nice that you mention it now as I was just thinking about it the other day, making a mental list of favorite winter scenes from children's books. Thought of the ice skating scene from this right away (that wonderful note: ”to keep a promise made to a little boy”!), and also a children's book that's probably not as well known there: Farmer Boy, by Laura Ingalls Wilder, telling the childhood of her husband on a farm in upstate New York. No one else ever seemed to read that one when I was a kid, but I loved it.
How marvelous to teach and read to kids, as you were doing.
Thanks for this, and all best wishes for the holidays and the new year!
You are very welcome!
It is such a wonderful book, I think my favourite childhood book. When you mentioned winter scenes, I reminded of the skating scene in "Love for Lydia" by HE Bates, do you know it? I haven't read Laura Ingalls Wilder but really must remedy that. I loved the TV series as a child.
A very happy Christmas to you🌲
Don't know Love for Lydia and looked it up immediately! Sounds intriguing, thank you. And agreed on Tom's Midnight Garden 💚
I love Come Back Lucy - the book. I never saw the TV series as I think it was on ITV and my childhood home was not an ITV household. Anyway - I would be happy to lend you my copy of the book if you are in the UK.
I had a very cheap copy in my World of Books basket and while I was looking for others by her, it sold. I was furious! All other copies are ridiculously expensive. I am in Norfolk, so if you didn't mind, that would be wonderful, thank you.
Ok if you message me your address I will sort this out in early January.
And thank you for allowing not-yet subscribers comment.
Thank you and do hope you choose to subscribe!
Let me get some coffee and breakfast first. 😁
That is essential! The link is correct, I think. At the end of my post A Restful Life you will find mention of Rumer Godden's "Fugue in Time" under the subtitle, Something to Read.
Just finding this Substack. Looks very interesting. But the link you put on the Rumer Godden book A Fugue in Time goes some place else. I’m a big fan of the Goddens, both Rumer and Jon. Had not heard of his work. You may want to correct that.
Thank you, I will.
I really enjoyed this post! I hadn't heard of 'A Box of Delights,' so I'll be getting that from the library shortly. Your story about growing up with only a few books at home made me think of Dianna Wynne Jones, who I love. She wrote about how her own girlhood was bereft of books and stories (she had stingy and strange parents). It's wonderful to me that -- either despite or because of her and her sisters' childhood lack -- she grew up to write some of the most delicious and surprising children's books in the English language.
She is another who I missed and she is mentioned in the Katherine Rundell essay, so I was intrigued. Where should I start? I am so glad you enjoyed the post.
Her most popular book is HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE, and it really is as good as everyone says. Very similar in its spirit to the Ghibli movie adaptation, but with major plot differences. A bit lesser known is her novel TIME OF THE GHOST, which has a lot of autobiographical influence, including the detail I shared with you about how she and her sisters grew up without books. Both of these novels are great entrypoints into her work! Maybe I would start with HOWL because then you'll have an easier time finding other readers to chat with about it -- which you'll definitely want to do! :)
Thank you very much, that it so kind of you. I am now off to search - it sounds as though I have a treat ahead!
Hey, I did indeed press the heart because I loved the post. While, inevitably, my choices differ from yours what I loved was your writing, your way of talking, about these books (and your foray to MR James’s childhood home - and the jolt of the posh cars) were what made me enjoy it so much.
I think Rundell is a great force for good in reading and writing; and her understanding of the way our childhood selves and our childhood reading resonate through the decades, and the adults we become so that those childhood years seem, a times, like another country, is unique on the current scene. The child is, indeed, father to the man…but how far away and different that child can sometimes seem to the man.
And Rentzenbrink always strikes me as an equal force for good, and a fine exemplar of writing in one’s own voice and articulating complexities lightly.
I dig that oak moon. Very MR James.
Happy Christmas and cheers for such interesting posts.
Thank you very much, Nicolas. The childhood home is a very unsettling place but the house itself is now rather grand, with vast marquees in the garden and not remotely unsettling!
I think these essays by Rundell are excellent. I read that she is putting much of her profits into climate change. She is clearly a force to be reckoned with. I am just about to begin The Golden Mole.
I loved the Rentzenbrink, her journey through books brought back so many reading memories.
I was amazed the oak moon photo turned out, so I had to use it!
Thank you very much for taking the time to read it and a very happy Christmas to you.